Greenwich Cafe Society

Greenwich is a changeable place. The markets have been pared back and are now more focused on food than simply gazing at and occasionally purchasing hand-crafted or salvaged items. The queue for the goat stew was longer than I've ever seen it. Mark almost abandoned the wait, but after the most gruelling marathon training session to date, he needed some proper refuelling. 

Goat stew, rice and bean cakes tempting visitors to Greenwich Market

As well as the well-known covered market, where food stalls occupy roughly a third, there are more cafes and cake shops than at any time I can remember (and I've been a fairly frequent visitor for 20 years). Some of extremely bijou with just a couple of tables of lucky people tucking in to their delicious looking cupcakes and fancies. My timing will be right one of these days...

Paul Rhodes Bakery near the Old Naval College does great looking breads and pastries but was also rather packe and there was no room at the upstairs cafe in Waterstones bookshop. Costa Coffee in Waterstones and Starbucks across the road from it are still exceptions here in Greenwich. Away from the Crescent Arcade identikit shops are more interesting takes on a well-earned coffee break. 

Mark has a well-earned cuppa at Biscuit after a big marathon-training session

Biscuit on Nelson Road (biscuit-biscuit.com) is one of the larger enterprises that has sprung up of late. Its large clear windows frame plenty of well-spaced tables and seating - along with a large wall of pots. Inside, it's a hive of industry. At first we thought we'd intruded on a pottery lesson. It is a coffee/cake shop but the food isn't the main attraction. 

Biscuit entreats its customers to be creative rather than relaxing and breathing in some restorative calories and caffeine. 

Choose a pot and give it a paint job

Blank white unfired pots can be bought at the counter. Choose from a zany cow, robot, horse rearing up or a cute animal if you prefer, or select a larger, more practical item such as a platter or jug. Prices range from £12 up to £24 depending on the size and complexity of the pottery you wish to customise. Bags of finished artworks that have been duly fired and dried cover an entire wall, ready for collection. Perhaps the one drawback to this intriguing enterprise is that you need to allow a week between painting and being able to take home your completed project - not ideal for the Greenwich day-tripper. 

As the assembled clientele and thoughtful inclusion of a baby changing room indicate, Biscuit doesn't try to be too arty. It;'s about getting stuck in and having a go, whatever your age. Paints are soluble and you can easily rinse off any designs you decide not to keep or unintentional personal adornment. Large signs encourage painters to layer up and increase the impact of your unique artwork. 

On this occasion, we didn't actually indulge in any pot decoration on this visit, but we noted details of the pot parties that can be held at Biscuit and will certainly return with young relatives and friends soon.